If it just happened
Emergency? Call 911- 1Call 911 for a blow to the head, passing out, confusion, neck or back pain, numbness, trouble breathing, or if anyone is trapped under product or racking.
- 2Do not move someone with possible neck or back injuries unless there is an immediate danger like fire.
- 3Keep everyone out of the aisle. Damaged racks can shift and more product can fall.
- 4Have a coworker notify your supervisor or shift lead right away.
- 5Ask that the uprights, beams, pallets and product be left in place and photographed before cleanup or repair.
- 6When you can, write down what fell, from roughly which level, whether a forklift or reach truck had just been working in the aisle, and whether the rack looked bent or damaged before.
General information only — not medical or legal advice.
Reporting it and the claim process
Rack collapses and falling product happen in warehouses, distribution centers and big-box retail stockrooms. Common details include a forklift striking an upright, beams that were overloaded or not locked in, a pallet that was broken or stacked unevenly, shrink wrap that failed, or damage that had been reported but not fixed. You do not have to know the cause. Describe what you saw, heard and felt.
Racking is often installed and inspected by outside companies, and loads may be built by a shipper or vendor. If another company was involved in installing, inspecting, loading or driving equipment in the aisle, note their name. That can raise third-party questions in addition to your workers' comp claim.
Deadlines to report and to file vary by state. If you are in the hospital, a family member can contact your employer and your state's workers' compensation agency for you.
Ask that camera footage, rack inspection reports and damage reports be kept. Keep your own copies of the injury report, photos, witness names and every medical record.
Getting medical care
Being struck by falling product can cause head injuries, neck and back injuries, broken bones and crush injuries. Some of these, especially concussions, may not be obvious at first. A licensed clinician decides what imaging and care fit. Follow-up may involve spine care, orthopedics or concussion care.
Tell every provider the injury happened at work. Some states and employers have rules about which provider you see for follow-up after the emergency, so ask the adjuster before switching.
If medication is prescribed, ask the pharmacy and adjuster how work-injury prescriptions are handled. Home delivery is often available, which helps if you should not drive after a head injury.
Prescribed medication? Learn about prescription home delivery, common medications after work injuries, or find pharmacies near you. Your doctor and pharmacist decide what is right for you.
When people often talk to an attorney
- You have a head, spine or crush injury, or symptoms that are not improving.
- The racking was installed, inspected or repaired by another company, or a vendor's pallet failed.
- Rack damage had been reported before and was not fixed.
- Your claim is denied or delayed, or specialist care is not approved.
- You cannot return to warehouse or stockroom work.
- Another company's insurer asks you for a recorded statement.
Learn more: what a workers' comp attorney does. Many offer a free first consultation; fees in workers' comp are often regulated by the state.
Recovery and going back to work
Follow your care plan closely, especially any concussion instructions about rest, screens and driving. Write down headaches, dizziness or memory problems with the date.
Ask for written restrictions, such as no lifting, no work in high-bay aisles or no equipment operation, and share them with your employer. Office, returns or inventory tasks may be possible at some sites.
Some people feel uneasy walking under tall racks after an accident like this. That is common; tell your clinician. Keep your supervisor and adjuster updated after each appointment.
Questions to ask
- Has the rack been photographed and inspected before repair?
- Who installed the racking, and when was it last inspected?
- Had damage to this rack been reported before?
- Can camera footage of the aisle be saved?
- Doctor, should I be checked for a concussion or spine injury?
- What restrictions should I follow when I return?
- Who do I call if the pharmacy has a question about billing my work-injury prescription?
- Attorney, could the racking company or a vendor be responsible?
Frequently asked questions
What should I do if warehouse shelving fell on me?
Call 911 for head, neck, back or crush injuries, and keep others out of the aisle. Ask that the rack and product be left as they are and photographed. Report the injury in writing once you have care.
Is being hit by falling shelving covered by workers' comp?
It may be, depending on your state and the facts. Being struck by falling objects at work is generally the kind of event workers' comp addresses. Report it promptly and ask your state's agency.
Can I file a claim against the company that installed the racking?
In some situations, a company that installed, inspected or loaded the rack may be a third party. This depends on your state and the facts. Many people talk with a workers' compensation attorney about it.
I was hit on the head but feel okay. Should I get checked?
Yes, getting checked is a good idea. Concussion symptoms can show up hours or days later. Tell the clinician it happened at work.
Why should the rack be left as it was?
The rack's condition can show what went wrong, such as a bent upright or an unlocked beam. Photos and inspection before repair help everyone understand what happened. Ask your employer to preserve it.
What if the rack had been damaged before?
Mention it in your report if you knew about it. Earlier damage reports can be important. People often consult an attorney when a known hazard was involved.
Related situations
Industries where this often happens
Prescriptions.plus is an educational portal. We are not a pharmacy, law firm, medical provider, insurer or claims administrator, and nothing here is medical or legal advice. Educational purposes only. Workers' compensation rules and deadlines vary by state — check with your state's workers' compensation agency. Medical emergency? Call 911. Hurt outside of work? Personal-injury legal help: attorneys.plus (coming soon).